Saturday, September 29 2012

A rigorous regime of sanitisation has been instituted at the Rousillac Presbyterian primary school after two students were found to have contracted the contagious viral infection — hand-foot and mouth disease.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a mild, contagious viral infection common in young children, and is characterised by sores in the mouth, and a rash on the hands and feet.

The disease is most commonly caused by a coxsackie virus.

The usual period from initial infection to the onset of signs and symptoms (incubation period) is three to seven days. A fever is often the first sign of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, followed by a sore throat, and sometimes a poor appetite and malaise. One or two days after the fever begins, painful sores may develop in the mouth, or throat. A rash on the hands and feet and possibly on the buttocks, can follow within one or two days.

A Ministry of Education communications officer noted that precautionary measures have been put in place at the school since the two cases had been confirmed. Meantime, there has been counselling of students, teachers, and parents regarding proper hygiene, including the washing of hands after using toilet facilities.

The officer noted that sanitisation of classrooms were also being performed on a twice daily basis. According to the officer, the sanitisation process does not require closure of the school.

She said a doctor, together with a public health inspector had visited the school earlier in the week, and had recommended both students be kept at home. They can return to classes only after being given a medical certificate. She said there had not been any reported cases since September 21, and no parents or teachers had reported any further cases.

Meanwhile, school principal, Keith Sankar confirmed the school’s ongoing sanitisation process, saying the Ministry of Health had not been able to confirm whether the children had picked up the virus at the school, or at their homes, but were taking all precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

He too noted that the public health inspector was also scheduled to visit the school next week. No other cases have so far, been identified at the school.